Cut!

"I have only made this letter rather long because i have not had time to make it shorter"
This famous quote was written in 1656, and it speaks to the power of editing. Today, think about your editing process...

1. How many drafts does your writing usually go through before you consider it done? (or do you subscribe to the first thought, best thought school of non-editing?)

2. How hard is it for you to 'cut your darlings' - phrases or scenes you are attached to, but don't fit well or are dead weight in the story?

3. What mistakes do you often find yourself editing out? (Passive voice, excessive adverbs, etc) Have you improved in these areas the more you edited?

4. What's the best advice you have reiceved on editing? What's the best advice you can give your fellow writers?

5. BONUS POINTS! Take one of your rough drafts of a scene or short story and edit it. Show us the before and after version.